Roll a D3: Three Sided Dice Roller
This free d3 roller is for tables that need a fair three sided die. Tap to roll, set how many d3s you want and add a modifier when a note calls for one. Each face from 1 to 3 has the same chance, so you do not have to map a physical d6 in the middle of a turn.
Tap the die to roll 1d3. Space and Enter work too.
Average for 1d3: 2 (before you roll)
How to use the d3 roller
Tap to roll. Press the big die and the roller shows a number from 1 to 3. Space and Enter work too once the page has focus, unless you are typing in a box.
Set the count and modifier. One d3 is the default. Raise the count for a small handful, then type a modifier to add or subtract after the dice are totaled.
Read every face. When you roll more than one d3, each face appears under the total. The average for your current notation is shown before you roll.
Need mixed dice or typed notation such as 2d3+1d6? Use the main DnD dice roller. To see exact odds for any pool, open the dice probability calculator.
What a d3 is used for
A d3 is a three sided die in notation form. Older tabletop games and some extra notes ask for 1d3 when they want three equal outcomes. It is not one of the seven dice in a standard polyhedral set, which is why people look up how to roll it.
Fifth edition adventures and sheets far more often call for a d4, d6 or d8 than a physical d3. When a table still wants three equal results, typing 1d3 here is faster than pausing to explain a d6 mapping.
The main roller also accepts 1d3, because it allows any size from 2 to 1000 sides. This page is the dedicated three sided roller for that same range. New to the bag? See what dice you need for DnD.
How to roll a physical d3
Most dice bags do not include a three sided die that reads cleanly. The usual stand-in is a d6 with the faces paired: 1 and 2 count as 1, 3 and 4 count as 2, and 5 and 6 count as 3. That pairing is the same as taking the d6 result, dividing by 2 and rounding up.
Some specialty dice are shaped as triangular prisms. They can be awkward to read, which is another reason groups type the roll instead. This virtual d3 just returns 1, 2 or 3.
Average d3 roll and odds
Every face of a fair d3 is equally likely, so 1, 2 and 3 each have a 1 in 3 chance (about 33.33%). The average of one d3 is 2. Two d3s average 4 and range from 2 to 6, with totals near 4 showing up more often than the ends.
If you want the full chart for a larger pool, set dice to d4 or another supported size on the probability page, or type the matching notation on the main roller and compare averages shown there.
Virtual dice vs a mapped d6
Mapping a d6 is fair if everyone remembers the pairs. It is also one extra step when the table is already busy. A virtual three sided roller shows the number the notation asked for, plus a total and a session average if you keep rolling.
Each roll here uses your browser's cryptographic random number generator, with extra values thrown out so no face is favored. See the about page for the method, or the dice roller FAQ for more on randomness and privacy.
More than a d3
A two sided flip has its own d2 roller. The standard set starts at the d4 roller and includes the d6, d8, d10, d12, d20 and d100. For a thousand sided table roll, open the d1000 roller.
d3 roller FAQ
Is this d3 roller free?
Yes. It is free, with no ads and no sign up. Open the page on any device and roll.
What is the average d3 roll?
The average of one d3 is 2, which is (1 + 3) divided by 2. Each face has a 1 in 3 chance, about 33.33%. Two d3s average 4.
What is a d3 used for?
A three sided die shows up in older tabletop games, some homebrew notes and any ruling that needs three equally likely results. Fifth edition rarely prints a physical d3 on a standard weapon line, so many groups type 1d3 or map a d6 instead.
How do you roll a d3 with a d6?
Roll a six sided die and map the faces in pairs: 1 or 2 become 1, 3 or 4 become 2, and 5 or 6 become 3. That is the same as dividing by 2 and rounding up. This roller returns 1, 2 or 3 directly.
Can I roll more than one d3?
Yes. Set the dice count above the result, then tap to roll. You can roll up to 20 d3s here. For a larger pool or mixed dice, use the main dice roller and type something like 4d3 or 1d3+2.
Is the d3 roll truly random?
Each dice roll draws random numbers from your browser's cryptographic generator. Values that would favor a face are thrown out and drawn again, so all three faces have the same chance.
See the Nat20 Roller FAQ for more on notation, advantage and how rolls stay random.